Old Time Tales - Lawton Evans

This collection of over forty stories and legends from history are related by a master-story teller. They are perfect for reading individually or aloud. Most of the stories are from European history, since the author's other volume, America First, relates American stories. Well know stories such as William Tell, Joan of Arc, and the death of Roland are told, as well as lesser known classics such as "The Mouse Tower," "Dmitri the Pretender," and "Berth of the Big Foot."

Introduction

The author of this work makes no pretense of originality in the telling of these stories of olden
times. They have been gleaned from many sources, and are the common heritage of all who love to
write them anew and hear them again. Only the words belong to the story teller; the story itself is
as old as the race.

In the lapse of years and with the much telling of these stories there is no longer a line between
fact and fiction. How much is true and how much is false does not matter; the story itself is the
thing, and one need not worry whether it really happened or not. Much of it is palpable fiction, but
much of it is true. Let us not be too critical of a story when it is a few hundred years old.

At any rate, the stories herein contained are a part of the great inheritance that the boys and
girls of this day have received from the past, and to which they are entitled in all fullness and
freedom. If the reading of them shall add anything to the enjoyment or to the information of those
who are always young in heart because they always thrill at romance and adventure, the writer of
these old time tales will be amply repaid.